If Jerry Garcia Had Carried Anti-Drug Message

Published: August 15, 1995

To the Editor:

Bravo! Just when I thought there was no hope, your paper (obituary, Aug. 10) printed the real reason for the guitarist Jerry Garcia's death: drugs. While the majority of the media hides the facts, he essentially overdosed, as his body could not take the drug abuse anymore. As you report, his heart stopped while he was in a drug rehabilitation center, again.

At 53, he looked 70. His fatal overdose is the third for the Grateful Dead since its inception 30 years ago.

Jerry Garcia was a beacon of light to the pro-drug culture. He turned on thousands of teen-agers and young adults to drugs by making getting high seem safe and peaceful. Many started taking drugs like LSD and marijuana through Jerry's music. Many graduated, like Jerry himself, to other drugs. Many lost their lives. Others became walking zombies.

I've been to Dead shows. So I know. But what strikes me is that Vice President Gore has also been to Dead shows. Didn't he see the same things I saw?

All of the network media reports that we've seen have been glowing -- even while they show teen-agers stoned out of their minds.

I liked Jerry Garcia. He was a great guitarist, and I enjoyed his music. He was also a great businessman. He made millions. But imagine what he could have done to influence kids to stop taking drugs. Imagine if Jerry did one commercial telling kids not to do drugs.

Until the baby boom comes to grips with the fact that the greatest drug influences on young people are icons like Jerry Garcia, we can never win. CHRISTIAN PLUNKETT Hoboken, N.J., Aug. 10, 1995